Hi, it’s Charles Nolan here as we enter the final school week before Christmas.
It was great to see the article in the Sydney Morning Herald on Eunice Cheng, one of our talented pre-schoolers, playing at the Sydney Opera House with the Babies Prom orchestra. Our children and students are our reason for being, and it’s great to see them doing well in the community. One of the defining factors of our American International School is that we seek to develop the individual within the community, not confine them with conformity. And that goes for all sizes of student. Congratulations to Eunice, and proud parents Dora and Joseph – all credit to you and your family.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/arts/little-bow-peep-has-lost-her-music-class/2006/12/10/1165685550816.html
Seeing our students (and parents) doing well is something that all our community can share. It’s the international diversity and individual opportunity that attracts many of us to American International School. Our students arrive individuals, retain that individuality, yet leave as global citizens. That bit of magic in between is your community, your aspirations and, most of all, your involvement. We develop this school and community together, so the greater the mix, the greater the result – for the process is the same. The co-education, culture, curriculum, content and class sizes define us as a community, not an institution. And we get to see the results in our own families for the rest of our lives.
Our own family is heading in to Christmas with an international flavour. Patrick is off to China with a school friend, to spend the Christmas five hours north of Beijing (at thirty below!). The friends our children make at American International School are spread throughout the world, and this sharing of home and holiday is one small example of the benefits of our global school community. This extends beyond their time at school. I see the names of past students continually appearing on the computer MSN screen, or faces laughing on camera, from islands and continents far away - in our home each day. The global village is here now, and our school, students and children are our own link together. Get on that internet chat yourselves, so that you too can keep connected for a lifetime of international community, that your American International School brings but a small part of the world picture.
Last Saturday saw us socialising, (some say proselytising when they see me in action with our school cards and message), at the American Consul General’s residence, for American Society Christmas cocktails. It was good to see groups of parents there, as well as other members of the community that support your American International School. Expatriates and their families are a very supportive and inclusive group, with individuals from many different countries. Very much like your American International School – not just American, not just International, not just a School.
Tuesday night will see us at the school tuning up the new remote access technology, ready for next semester. We are looking to bring the entire school computer desktop into your homes for your students use after school. We are just tuning the “friendliness” and security ready for the launch next year. And Friday will see me at school all day, to talk with parents, wish all families Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and to celebrate a great year’s efforts with your American International School teachers. It will be a great day for me. One in which I can share in your American International School, where “International Education is for Everyone”, and if not a right, is surely an aspiration.
Please feel free to pass this email on to friends and colleagues, and let me know if anyone is missing out. It may be the opportunity for their family to join our American International Community, and see the difference that an international education, and an international community, can bring to their family and their lives.
See you on Friday, see you in the holidays or on the world-wide web.
Regards,
Charles
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Wednesday, December 6, 2006
Update Term 2-Week 7 - American International School - Lightly towards Christmas
Hi, it’s Charles Nolan here as our American International School community heads towards Christmas, and the New Year.
We celebrated together last weekend, with Christmas Lights, food, company and lots of Christmas cheer. Although the day started inauspiciously, with humidity and then torrential rain, the evening was kind to us with fine but not clear weather all through our festivities together. We had a great turnout with a number of families, teachers and staff braving the weather forecast. Some may have cancelled because they thought we might defer to the weather. But they must have not known us well, for I would still be there for this school community whatever the weather, whatever the challenge. It is satisfaction enough for me to provide an opportunity, and up to others satisfaction to attend and enjoy themselves.
But the New Year is fast approaching and pressures mounting on families and friends. It is also time to be thankful for what we have achieved together in our American International School. Last weekend was one small indication of that, the school concert was another. It was great to see the numbers at the concert, a full house in our own Lincoln Hall, suitably entertained and supporting another great production. All part of the sharing that sees parents, teachers, students and community doing their bit to build and add their piece to that international puzzle – to make a difference, for the families and friends that make up our American International School.
I say community, as we do have supporters outside our immediate student body. Thanks to Eric Pozorski and the people from Compro and Array Technologies who spent last Tuesday evening at school, preparing the next version of remote computing access. I took the time to walk Eric around the school, filling the vacant night time spaces with my hands where laughing and smiling students would be during the day. I take the opportunity to tell everyone of what we are doing at this American International School – that’s not just American, not just International, and more than just a School.
It’s so much shell at night, compared to the bustle of the day, even though it’s like the walls have memories of all those students through the past years. Mary met a former student from the “old days” when the school was an orphanage in the thirties and forties. I talked to some old people on the bus about the school, and a young lady approached me for our card and information on the school. We welcome all with connection and compassion for our school. We feel like caretakers, and are careful to preserve the history as well as prepare the future. We now have more Australian enquiries turning into enrolments as the message gets out. The message that there is a place in Sydney where International Education is for Everyone, and where you can see the difference it makes in the lives of all those involved.
This Saturday will see a number of parents and staff attending cocktails at the Double Bay residence of the American Consul General, Steven Smith and his wife Monica McKnight. Many of us won’t be American, but we will be enjoying ourselves, and promoting community and school. We are about to undertake a tripartite marketing campaign with American Club, Society and School providing support to expatriate families in business networking, social events and education. Let me know how we can get involved and support your communities, for we aim to be The International School, for everyone.
I would like to take the opportunity to meet some more of you before Christmas, so I will be out at School for all the last day of term, Friday-15-December. I will be there to listen and take on board your ideas for the new Calendar year. See you there, call me or just pop in over the holidays. Patrick will be with school friends in China, but Tom, Mary and I will be there to share the holiday spirit with our friends and community from American International School.
Remember: American International School – not just American - not just International - not just a School.
Help others to see the difference, where international education is for everyone, and although not a right, is surely an inspiration.
Regards,
Charles
We celebrated together last weekend, with Christmas Lights, food, company and lots of Christmas cheer. Although the day started inauspiciously, with humidity and then torrential rain, the evening was kind to us with fine but not clear weather all through our festivities together. We had a great turnout with a number of families, teachers and staff braving the weather forecast. Some may have cancelled because they thought we might defer to the weather. But they must have not known us well, for I would still be there for this school community whatever the weather, whatever the challenge. It is satisfaction enough for me to provide an opportunity, and up to others satisfaction to attend and enjoy themselves.
But the New Year is fast approaching and pressures mounting on families and friends. It is also time to be thankful for what we have achieved together in our American International School. Last weekend was one small indication of that, the school concert was another. It was great to see the numbers at the concert, a full house in our own Lincoln Hall, suitably entertained and supporting another great production. All part of the sharing that sees parents, teachers, students and community doing their bit to build and add their piece to that international puzzle – to make a difference, for the families and friends that make up our American International School.
I say community, as we do have supporters outside our immediate student body. Thanks to Eric Pozorski and the people from Compro and Array Technologies who spent last Tuesday evening at school, preparing the next version of remote computing access. I took the time to walk Eric around the school, filling the vacant night time spaces with my hands where laughing and smiling students would be during the day. I take the opportunity to tell everyone of what we are doing at this American International School – that’s not just American, not just International, and more than just a School.
It’s so much shell at night, compared to the bustle of the day, even though it’s like the walls have memories of all those students through the past years. Mary met a former student from the “old days” when the school was an orphanage in the thirties and forties. I talked to some old people on the bus about the school, and a young lady approached me for our card and information on the school. We welcome all with connection and compassion for our school. We feel like caretakers, and are careful to preserve the history as well as prepare the future. We now have more Australian enquiries turning into enrolments as the message gets out. The message that there is a place in Sydney where International Education is for Everyone, and where you can see the difference it makes in the lives of all those involved.
This Saturday will see a number of parents and staff attending cocktails at the Double Bay residence of the American Consul General, Steven Smith and his wife Monica McKnight. Many of us won’t be American, but we will be enjoying ourselves, and promoting community and school. We are about to undertake a tripartite marketing campaign with American Club, Society and School providing support to expatriate families in business networking, social events and education. Let me know how we can get involved and support your communities, for we aim to be The International School, for everyone.
I would like to take the opportunity to meet some more of you before Christmas, so I will be out at School for all the last day of term, Friday-15-December. I will be there to listen and take on board your ideas for the new Calendar year. See you there, call me or just pop in over the holidays. Patrick will be with school friends in China, but Tom, Mary and I will be there to share the holiday spirit with our friends and community from American International School.
Remember: American International School – not just American - not just International - not just a School.
Help others to see the difference, where international education is for everyone, and although not a right, is surely an inspiration.
Regards,
Charles
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
